"It all comes down to coaching," Cowboys defensive coordinator Rob Ryan said after Sunday night’s blowout loss to the Eagles. "Andy Reid was reading my mail. He kicked my ass. I've got to be smarter than this." The win advanced Reid to 13-0 in games played after the Eagles’ bye week.
Reid’s game plan involved attacking Ryan’s tendency to aggressively pursue with his front seven, leaving a nimble LeSean McCoy with the opportunity for cut-backs and change-of-direction runs.
Drawing comparisons to Hall of Famer Barry Sanders due to his elite lateral agility, McCoy is “playing as well as any back in the league right now,” according to Reid. New offensive line coach Howard Mudd’s unit is starting to gel with LT Jason Peters returning from injury, Todd Herremans solidifying right tackle, and rookies Danny Watkins and Jason Kelce finally hitting their stride on the interior. "It's easy for a back to find a hole out there,” said McCoy, “when they're pushing the defensive line back five yards on every play.” Having overtaken Fred Jackson as fantasy’s No. 1 running back, McCoy is on pace for 309 carries, 1,723 rushing yards, 53 receptions, 315 receiving yards and 23 total scores through seven games.
Taking advantage of wide scrambling holes and passing lanes, Vick posted his most efficient performance since earning a new contract behind his record 99.8 Total QBR against the Redskins on Monday Night Football last season. Vick’s 90.1 Total QBR Sunday night was the second-highest since his release from prison, going 13-of-17 for 187 yards and two touchdowns through the air and adding 45 more yards on the ground when the game was still relatively close. His final numbers aren’t eye-popping, but Vick did the majority of his damage in just one half.
We advised last week on Twitter to buy low on Vick with the offensive line improving and his zero rushing scores likely to begin trending toward last year’s total of nine. His 264.6 passing yards and 60.3 rushing yards per game this season have both exceeded his 2010 equivalents. Vick is now on pace for a career-high shattering 4,233 passing yards, a career-high 25 passing touchdowns and 965 rushing yards.
Fun with On-Pace Numbers
Cam Newton / Steve Smith - Your No. 1 fantasy QB in total points at the mid-season mark is a rookie. Newton deserved a better fate against the Vikings, converting a clutch 4th-and-15 throw for 44 yards to Brandon LaFell to put the Panthers in position for the game-winning field goal with less than a minute remaining. His ensuing scramble would have set up 1st-and-goal from inside the 5-yard line if not for a questionable holding call on Smith. As it turned out, Olindo Mare blew a 31-yard field goal that would have sent the game to overtime.
With 290 yards and a career-high three passing scores, Newton joined Peyton Manning, Matt Ryan and Sam Bradford as the only rookie QBs since 1960 with five 250-yard passing games. “He is good,” NFL sack leader Jared Allen told Yahoo’s Michael Silver Sunday night. “Scary when he gets out of the pocket.” The 2011 No. 1 overall pick is on pace to demolish the rookie passing record with 4,786 yards, 22 touchdowns, 638 rushing yards and an NFL record 14 rushing scores. Smith remains the NFL’s leader in receiving yards, on pace to threaten Jerry Rice’s single-season record of 1,848 yards.
Ben Roethlisberger / Mike Wallace - The Steelers ditched their power-running, big-play passing attack to beat the Patriots at their own game with short throws to exploit the soft underbelly of the defense while maintaining a marked advantage in time of possession. Playing keep away from Tom Brady, Big Ben held the ball for more than 39 minutes while his 36 completions (to nine different receivers) and 50 attempts were each the second-most he’s posted in a single game.
After starting the season with a 3:5 TD-to-INT ratio through four games, Roethlisberger has posted an 11:2 ratio in the past four contests. Trailing only Brady (99), Roger Staubach (99) and Ken Stabler, ESPN Stats & Info points out that Roethlisberger (106) is the fourth-fastest QB to 75 wins. Now seventh among fantasy QBs, Big Ben is on pace for a career-high 4,608 yards and 28 touchdowns while Wallace is on pace for an 86/1,600/10 line.
Matthew Stafford / Calvin Johnson - Detroit’s 45 points were the franchise’s most on the road in 45 years. The constrast between a dangerously efficient Stafford and inaccurate turnover machine Tim Tebow was stark, as borne out by the 91.3 difference in their Total QBRs -- the highest among two opposing QBs this season. Powered by a first-half mark of 16-of-22 for 191 yards, two scores, and 11 first downs, Stafford recorded the highest Total QBR (94.6) of his career. His breakout season is now on pace for 4,358 yards and a 38:12 TD-to-INT ratio. Joining Randy Moss (2007) as the only players with 11 touchdowns through eight games, Megatron is on pace for a 94/1,608/22 line as fantasy’s No. 1 receiver.
Eli Manning - The past month may be the most impressive stretch of Eli’s career. He hasn't been picked in four of his past five starts while racking up 11 touchdowns. His 45 attempts against the Dolphins Sunday are the second-most of his career without throwing an interception. The Giants’ schedule gets tougher from here with the Patriots, 49ers, Eagles, Saints, Packers and Cowboys on the docket over the next six weeks, though Manning’s numbers should survive just fine as long as Hakeem Nicks’ hamstring injury isn’t serious. Eli is on pace for a career-high 4,862 yards and 30 touchdowns as fantasy’s No. 7 QB in points per game.
Fred Jackson - If Hall of Fame coach Marv Levy hadn’t attended tiny Coe College in Iowa before moving on to graduate studies at Harvard, Jackson might still be trapped in a bottom-rung indoor league. Six years after landing a tryout with the Bills and a season in NFL Europe, F-Jax has become the first Bills runner to go over 1,000 scrimmage yards in the first seven games since Hall of Famer Thurman Thomas in 1991. Carrying the Bills offense over the past month, Jackson is on pace for 302 carries, 1,648 rushing yards, 62 receptions, 807 receiving yards, 14 touchdowns and a 5.46 yards per carry average.
Steven Jackson - One of the game’s true warriors on a string of going-nowhere Rams squads, S-Jax was the inspirational leader in the unthinkable upset over the Saints. Jackson got SI.com’s Peter King so fired up that he wanted to hit Rodney Harrison. He wouldn’t allow teammates to lose focus, at one point getting in LT Rodger Saffold’s face after a false-start penalty. The linebacker-sized feature back cleared 150 yards with two scores for the first time since 2008 while passing Marshall Faulk for third on the franchise’s career yardage list. Now healthy after an early-season quad injury, Jackson is averaging 5.3 yards per clip while on pace for 1,216 total yards and 11 scores.
Frank Gore - After gashing the Browns defense for 134 yards, Gore joined O.J. Simpson (1975), Terrell Davis (1998) and Larry Johnson (2005) as the only backs with four consecutive games of 125+ yards and a touchdown. His current streak is the longest of consecutive 100-yard performances by a 49ers back since Garrison Hearst in 1998. Rolling into another attractive matchup against the Redskins, Gore is on pace for a 320/1,543/11 rushing line.
Adrian Peterson - The coaching staff discussed increasing Peterson’s passing-game contributions last week as a way to boost offensive efficiency. The result was five catches for a career-high 76 receiving yards as Peterson took advantage of the room to roam underneath provided by a mobile quarterback. Since rookie Christian Ponder took the reins two games ago, Peterson is averaging 168.5 scrimmage yards per game. To go with seven scores in his past four games, Peterson is on pace for a 334/1,596/18 rushing line. There’s not another player I’d rather own the rest of the way.
Tight Ends - With the exception of a two-game minislump in Weeks 3 and 4, Fred Davis has cleared 80 yards in every game. The breakout TE1 is on pace for an 82/1,182/5 line as fantasy’s No. 4 tight end. … Jimmy Graham’s on-pace numbers “dropped” to 98 receptions, 1,426 yards, and 10 touchdowns after a 39-yard outing against the Rams. … Rob Gronkowski lost a Week 8 touchdown due to a bad call, but he’s still on pace for an 82/1,131/11 line as fantasy’s No. 2 tight end.
"It all comes down to coaching," Cowboys defensive coordinator Rob Ryan said after Sunday night’s blowout loss to the Eagles. "Andy Reid was reading my mail. He kicked my ass. I've got to be smarter than this." The win advanced Reid to 13-0 in games played after the Eagles’ bye week.
Reid’s game plan involved attacking Ryan’s tendency to aggressively pursue with his front seven, leaving a nimble LeSean McCoy with the opportunity for cut-backs and change-of-direction runs.
Drawing comparisons to Hall of Famer Barry Sanders due to his elite lateral agility, McCoy is “playing as well as any back in the league right now,” according to Reid. New offensive line coach Howard Mudd’s unit is starting to gel with LT Jason Peters returning from injury, Todd Herremans solidifying right tackle, and rookies Danny Watkins and Jason Kelce finally hitting their stride on the interior. "It's easy for a back to find a hole out there,” said McCoy, “when they're pushing the defensive line back five yards on every play.” Having overtaken Fred Jackson as fantasy’s No. 1 running back, McCoy is on pace for 309 carries, 1,723 rushing yards, 53 receptions, 315 receiving yards and 23 total scores through seven games.
Taking advantage of wide scrambling holes and passing lanes, Vick posted his most efficient performance since earning a new contract behind his record 99.8 Total QBR against the Redskins on Monday Night Football last season. Vick’s 90.1 Total QBR Sunday night was the second-highest since his release from prison, going 13-of-17 for 187 yards and two touchdowns through the air and adding 45 more yards on the ground when the game was still relatively close. His final numbers aren’t eye-popping, but Vick did the majority of his damage in just one half.
We advised last week on Twitter to buy low on Vick with the offensive line improving and his zero rushing scores likely to begin trending toward last year’s total of nine. His 264.6 passing yards and 60.3 rushing yards per game this season have both exceeded his 2010 equivalents. Vick is now on pace for a career-high shattering 4,233 passing yards, a career-high 25 passing touchdowns and 965 rushing yards.
Fun with On-Pace Numbers
Cam Newton / Steve Smith - Your No. 1 fantasy QB in total points at the mid-season mark is a rookie. Newton deserved a better fate against the Vikings, converting a clutch 4th-and-15 throw for 44 yards to Brandon LaFell to put the Panthers in position for the game-winning field goal with less than a minute remaining. His ensuing scramble would have set up 1st-and-goal from inside the 5-yard line if not for a questionable holding call on Smith. As it turned out, Olindo Mare blew a 31-yard field goal that would have sent the game to overtime.
With 290 yards and a career-high three passing scores, Newton joined Peyton Manning, Matt Ryan and Sam Bradford as the only rookie QBs since 1960 with five 250-yard passing games. “He is good,” NFL sack leader Jared Allen told Yahoo’s Michael Silver Sunday night. “Scary when he gets out of the pocket.” The 2011 No. 1 overall pick is on pace to demolish the rookie passing record with 4,786 yards, 22 touchdowns, 638 rushing yards and an NFL record 14 rushing scores. Smith remains the NFL’s leader in receiving yards, on pace to threaten Jerry Rice’s single-season record of 1,848 yards.
Ben Roethlisberger / Mike Wallace - The Steelers ditched their power-running, big-play passing attack to beat the Patriots at their own game with short throws to exploit the soft underbelly of the defense while maintaining a marked advantage in time of possession. Playing keep away from Tom Brady, Big Ben held the ball for more than 39 minutes while his 36 completions (to nine different receivers) and 50 attempts were each the second-most he’s posted in a single game.
After starting the season with a 3:5 TD-to-INT ratio through four games, Roethlisberger has posted an 11:2 ratio in the past four contests. Trailing only Brady (99), Roger Staubach (99) and Ken Stabler, ESPN Stats & Info points out that Roethlisberger (106) is the fourth-fastest QB to 75 wins. Now seventh among fantasy QBs, Big Ben is on pace for a career-high 4,608 yards and 28 touchdowns while Wallace is on pace for an 86/1,600/10 line.
Matthew Stafford / Calvin Johnson - Detroit’s 45 points were the franchise’s most on the road in 45 years. The constrast between a dangerously efficient Stafford and inaccurate turnover machine Tim Tebow was stark, as borne out by the 91.3 difference in their Total QBRs -- the highest among two opposing QBs this season. Powered by a first-half mark of 16-of-22 for 191 yards, two scores, and 11 first downs, Stafford recorded the highest Total QBR (94.6) of his career. His breakout season is now on pace for 4,358 yards and a 38:12 TD-to-INT ratio. Joining Randy Moss (2007) as the only players with 11 touchdowns through eight games, Megatron is on pace for a 94/1,608/22 line as fantasy’s No. 1 receiver.
Eli Manning - The past month may be the most impressive stretch of Eli’s career. He hasn't been picked in four of his past five starts while racking up 11 touchdowns. His 45 attempts against the Dolphins Sunday are the second-most of his career without throwing an interception. The Giants’ schedule gets tougher from here with the Patriots, 49ers, Eagles, Saints, Packers and Cowboys on the docket over the next six weeks, though Manning’s numbers should survive just fine as long as Hakeem Nicks’ hamstring injury isn’t serious. Eli is on pace for a career-high 4,862 yards and 30 touchdowns as fantasy’s No. 7 QB in points per game.
Fred Jackson - If Hall of Fame coach Marv Levy hadn’t attended tiny Coe College in Iowa before moving on to graduate studies at Harvard, Jackson might still be trapped in a bottom-rung indoor league. Six years after landing a tryout with the Bills and a season in NFL Europe, F-Jax has become the first Bills runner to go over 1,000 scrimmage yards in the first seven games since Hall of Famer Thurman Thomas in 1991. Carrying the Bills offense over the past month, Jackson is on pace for 302 carries, 1,648 rushing yards, 62 receptions, 807 receiving yards, 14 touchdowns and a 5.46 yards per carry average.
Steven Jackson - One of the game’s true warriors on a string of going-nowhere Rams squads, S-Jax was the inspirational leader in the unthinkable upset over the Saints. Jackson got SI.com’s Peter King so fired up that he wanted to hit Rodney Harrison. He wouldn’t allow teammates to lose focus, at one point getting in LT Rodger Saffold’s face after a false-start penalty. The linebacker-sized feature back cleared 150 yards with two scores for the first time since 2008 while passing Marshall Faulk for third on the franchise’s career yardage list. Now healthy after an early-season quad injury, Jackson is averaging 5.3 yards per clip while on pace for 1,216 total yards and 11 scores.
Frank Gore - After gashing the Browns defense for 134 yards, Gore joined O.J. Simpson (1975), Terrell Davis (1998) and Larry Johnson (2005) as the only backs with four consecutive games of 125+ yards and a touchdown. His current streak is the longest of consecutive 100-yard performances by a 49ers back since Garrison Hearst in 1998. Rolling into another attractive matchup against the Redskins, Gore is on pace for a 320/1,543/11 rushing line.
Adrian Peterson - The coaching staff discussed increasing Peterson’s passing-game contributions last week as a way to boost offensive efficiency. The result was five catches for a career-high 76 receiving yards as Peterson took advantage of the room to roam underneath provided by a mobile quarterback. Since rookie Christian Ponder took the reins two games ago, Peterson is averaging 168.5 scrimmage yards per game. To go with seven scores in his past four games, Peterson is on pace for a 334/1,596/18 rushing line. There’s not another player I’d rather own the rest of the way.
Tight Ends - With the exception of a two-game minislump in Weeks 3 and 4, Fred Davis has cleared 80 yards in every game. The breakout TE1 is on pace for an 82/1,182/5 line as fantasy’s No. 4 tight end. … Jimmy Graham’s on-pace numbers “dropped” to 98 receptions, 1,426 yards, and 10 touchdowns after a 39-yard outing against the Rams. … Rob Gronkowski lost a Week 8 touchdown due to a bad call, but he’s still on pace for an 82/1,131/11 line as fantasy’s No. 2 tight end.
Short Quotes on Struggling Players
Profootballtalk.com’s Mike Florio on Chris Johnson: "Something’s wrong with Johnson, and the question isn’t whether he’ll get it back this year. The question is whether he’ll get it back ever.”
Profootballtalk.com’s Mike Florio on Tim Tebow: “It’s easy to say that he’s a work in progress. But not every unfinished painting becomes a masterpiece. Tebow, once fully developed, could be a .500 quarterback at best.”
Undisclosed Lions defender to Yahoo! Sports’ Michael Silver on Tebow: “Can you believe ’15’? Come on – that’s embarrassing. I mean, it’s a joke. We knew all week that if we brought any kind of defensive pressure, he couldn’t do anything. In the second half it got boring out there. We were like, ‘Come on – that’s your quarterback? Seriously?’”
Committee Time
Titans - Javon Ringer (19 touches, 102 yards) / Chris Johnson (17 touches, 51 yards)
Both backs saw 14 carries, and an increasingly more effective Ringer held a 60-to-34 edge in yards. Despite Johnson’s $13.5 million-to-$525,000 advantage in salary, it was Ringer who played all but two snaps in the fourth quarter as the feature back. Coach Mike Munchak announced afterwards that the Titans would dole out carries based on "flow of the game." Ringer has the hot hand heading into Week 9 against the Bengals and should be owned in all fantasy leagues.
Saints - Pierre Thomas (11 touches, 34 yards, TD) / Darren Sproles (12 touches, 76 yards) / Chris Ivory (6 carries, 18 yards)
Thomas and Sproles were expected to run roughshod over the Rams soft defense, but St. Louis ended up dominating the line of scrimmage. Mark Ingram (heels) should be welcomed back with open arms if he’s ready to play against the Bucs in Week 9. If not, Ivory will continue to handle short-yardage work.
Giants - Ahmad Bradshaw (18 touches, 88 yards) / Brandon Jacobs (5 touches, 10 yards)
Bradshaw’s mid-game foot X-rays raised eyebrows due to his extensive history of foot and ankle surgeries. Rotoworld’s game charter noted that he looked “tentative and slightly hobbled” upon his return, advising readers to sell if possible. Jacobs continues to bellyache about his limited role, which often leads to appeasement. He’s a good bet for increased carries at New England next week with Bradshaw at less than 100 percent.
Panthers - Jonathan Stewart (15 touches, 59 yards) / DeAngelo Williams (9 touches, 39 yards)
It will be interesting to see if Stewart can take the lead-back role and run with it after out-carrying Williams for the second consecutive game. Stewart is the better, more explosive back -- and it’s an open-and-shut case. Heading into the Week 9 bye, Stewart remains a high-upside flex option while Williams is essentially unstartable.
Patriots - Kevin Faulk (11 touches, 52 yards) / BenJarvus Green-Ellis (5 carries, 9 yards)
Danny Woodhead and Stevan Ridley were afterthoughts with Faulk assuming his old passing-down role. Green-Ellis figures to remain the primary ball carrier, but he will lose snaps on passing downs because Faulk is Tom Brady’s most trusted chip-blocker and pass protector. At age 35 coming off reconstructive knee surgery, Faulk isn’t a good bet to stay healthy and productive enough for reliable value as a PPR flex option.
Browns - Chris Ogbonnaya (16 touches, 61 yards) / Montario Hardesty (2 carries, 6 yards)
Hardesty started after Peyton Hillis’ (hamstring) mid-week setback, but lasted only a few plays before a strained calf muscle sent him to the sidelines. Plodding third-down back Ogbonnaya carried the load the rest of the way against a stout Niners run defense. Coach Pat Shurmur said he didn't know for sure that Hillis wouldn't play until Sunday morning, so there’s a decent chance that he will return to face the Texans in Week 9.
Redskins - Ryan Torain (8 carries, 14 yards) / Roy Helu (3 catches, 20 yards)
Torain has managed 31 yards on 22 carries (1.55 per) since his out-of-nowhere breakout game against the Rams in Week 4. The Redskins’ offensive line is in shambles, and Torain doesn’t see the field once the team falls behind. Helu is a good bet to play more snaps -- if not record more touches -- going forward.
Lions - Maurice Morris (14 touches, 65 yards, TD) / Keiland Williams (12 touches, 30 yards)
This was a fairly even breakdown in touches -- if not snaps -- for the second straight game. The Lions expect to have Jahvid Best (concussion) back in the lineup following the Week 9 bye. Morris is worth keeping around as insurance, though it’s a good time to drop Williams in all leagues.
Injury Ward
Kevin Kolb, Cardinals - Turf Toe
Blaine Gabbert, Jaguars - Ribs
Beanie Wells, Cardinals - Knee
Ahmad Bradshaw, Giants - Foot
Montario Hardesty, Browns - Calf
Hakeem Nicks, Giants - Hamstring
Percy Harvin, Vikings - Ribs
Vernon Davis, 49ers - Arm
Check out Matt Stroup’s “Hakeem’s Hamstring Hurts” for in-depth analysis of Sunday’s M*A*S*H unit fallout.
Awards Section
Stat of the Week: According to ESPN Stats & Info, Tim Tebow’s 3.4 in Week 8 is the lowest Total QBR of any quarterback with at least 50 action plays in a single game since 2008. Tebow’s Total QBR has declined significantly in each of his five career starts (83.3, 58.5, 31.2, 16.4, 3.4).
Runner-Up: Week 8 marked the fourth time that Chris Johnson has been held under 35 rushing this season, which matches his career total from 2008-2010 combined.
Quote of the Week: FOX studio analyst Jimmy Johnson was asked, “Gun to head, sign Tiki or T.O.?” Johnson’s response: “Give me the bullet.”
Runner-Up: Brandon Jacobs, upset after receiving just four carries in the Giants’ Week 8 victory over the Dolphins: “I’ve got nothing positive to say. The most positive thing: I got family at home and I got a fast-ass car being delivered on Tuesday. That’s it.”
Tweet of the Week: From @KenzLife on the Suck For Luck race and the Dolphins’ early-week signing of J.P. Losman: “It's like a poker match between the Fins & Colts. ‘I'll see your Painter and raise you a Losman.’ Even his last name sends a signal.”
Runner-Up: From Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News on the Terrell Owens workout-turned-infomercial on ESPN and NFL Network: “Source with knowledge but little interest in T.O. workout confirms the Giants are one of the 32 teams completely ignoring it.”
Second Runner-Up: From the Everett Herald’s John Boyle on Rangers star Mike Napoli twisting his ankle on second base: “Yikes. Napoli's ankle bent so badly that I think I just heard Ndamukong Suh taunting him.”
Third Runner-Up: From writer Paul Raff a/k/a @MookieWilson86 on Sunday night’s game: “Nice moment of sportsmanship when Rob Ryan handed Andy Reid that congratulatory McRib sandwich at midfield.”
Fantasy MVP of Week 8: LeSean McCoy, Eagles
Fantasy Breakout Player of Week 8: Steven Jackson, Rams
Fantasy Rookie of Week 8: Cam Newton, Panthers
Fantasy Disappointment of Week 8: Saints Offense
Fantasy Fraud of Week 8: Ryan Torain, Redskins
Fantasy Fluke of Week 8: Reggie Bush, Dolphins
Fine Fifteen Fantasy Offenses
1. Eagles
2. Packers
3. Saints
4. Patriots
5. Cowboys
6. Panthers
7. Steelers
8. Lions
9. Giants
10. Texans
11. Chargers
12. Falcons
13. Bills
14. Ravens
15. Jets
Just Missed: Vikings, Rams
Early Waiver Look
QB: Christian Ponder, Tarvaris Jackson, Andy Dalton, Brady Quinn
RB: Javon Ringer, Roy Helu, Chris Ogbonnaya, Donald Brown, Kevin Faulk, Lance Ball
WR: Lance Moore, Emmanuel Sanders, Ben Obomanu, Laurent Robinson, Early Doucet, Titus Young, Doug Baldwin, Greg Salas, Braylon Edwards, Leonard Hankerson
TE: Ben Watson, Heath Miller, Brent Celek, Jake Ballard, Zach Miller
D/ST: Raiders, Falcons
Follow Chris Wesseling on Twitter.